HIMALAYA

SYNOPSIS:
High in the Dolpo, in the NW Himalayas, a small community divides dramatically after the
accidental death of the chiefís son on a mountain outing. Chief Tinle (Thilen
Lhondup) is elderly but hardly senile, and he refuses to believe it was an accident. He
also refuses to forgive the young man who brought his sonís body home, Karma (Gurgon
Kyap), who is the logical heir to the Chief Ė who also who inherits the young widow,
Pema (Lhapka Tsamchoe). In this mood of discord, Tinle and Karma disgaree on the perfect
time to take their herd of yaks and sacks of salt (to trade for grain) on the traditional
route across the treacherous mountains. The early winter storms can devastate the
community on its journey. Karmaís youthful revolutionary spirit defies the old
manís traditional ways.

"While it is difficult to tell what level of performance Eric Valli elicits from
this cast due to the strangeness of the language and distancing effect of subtitles, the
overall impact is totally credible. This is no doubt boosted by the extraordinary setting
and the even more extraordinary feat of capturing the story and the setting so handsomely
on film. And itís not all beautiful vistas of proud mountains; there is pain, danger
and death lurking in every frame. The music haunts me, especially the vocal refrain of the
central theme. A spectacular adventure and generation-gap drama on the one hand and a
fierce docu-drama on the other, Himalaya is a high, full of sheer amazement value."Andrew L. Urban

"Described by the writer/director as a Tibetan western, Himalaya is an
extraordinary cinematic experience, taking us high above the clouds into a world that lies
somewhere between the one we know and the Shangri-La that is paradise. It's a harsh,
isolated existence that relies on strength of mind as well as body, and in this astounding
tale inspired by a yakpa (cowboy leader) and a Lama (monk), we are humbled. How this film
was ever made in these rugged conditions at the top of the world, where the dust is as
thick as fog and the snow is knee deep, is a marvel. Taking nine long months to shoot,
Himalaya is unique in that the people of the mountains, who have never seen a camera, play
their own characters in a dramatic setting, giving an insight into the very essence of
their existence. It's almost a spiritual experience, hearing Bruno Coulais' haunting
chant-like music score, and being privy to a glimpse inside an unknown solitary world. The
faces are weather beaten and we enter a world filled with rituals, superstitions and
traditions. The stars (in the sky) dictate when the caravan of yaks will transport the
salt, which means survival. The issues are that of life and death and the extreme beauty
of Nepal is exposed in glorious wide screen. The darkness of the living conditions is
contrasted by the ornate, colourful jewellery and bright demeanour worn by the people. The
yaks are magnificent beasts, and observing a jet black yak, complete with winter coat
trudging over blinding white snow is a breathtaking experience. Himalaya is an inspiring
cinematic feast and will haunt you forever. For me, beyond nature's phenomenal showcase
and the human story, the notion of challenge is one that stays with me: 'When two paths
open up before you, choose the hardest one.'"Louise Keller